Survivors and relatives of victims in the Manila bus tragedy who marched on the Philippine consulate yesterday said it had been irresponsible in not arranging a representative to receive their petition, despite a promise to do so.

Tearful family members of killed tour guide Masa Tse Ting-chunn and survivor Yik Siu-ling placed their petition outside the Philippine consulate in Admiralty yesterday morning after observing a minute of silence. They wrote "Justice undone. We will never forget" on the envelope.

The petition, delivered on the third anniversary of the hostage crisis, in which eight Hongkongers were shot dead by a sacked policeman, reiterated their four demands to Manila - an apology, compensation, punishment of responsible officials and improved safety for tourists. Tse Chi-kin, elder brother of Masa, said the consulate had previously told the Security Bureau that it would send someone to receive the petition although the consulate was closed every Friday and Saturday. But it changed its mind yesterday morning.

"They can't even fulfil this simple and basic promise. This exactly reflects how much respect it has paid to the incident these three years," he said.

"Receiving a petition isn't complicated. Everyone can see how sincere [Manila] is."

The family later visited Masa Tse's grave in Diamond Hill, offering food and drinks that he had liked, such as red wine and coffee.

Families and survivors rejected an apology from new Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Tuesday, saying it was insincere.

Tse's mother Lee Mei-chun, and injured survivors Yik and Joe Chan Kwok-chu, filed a writ in the High Court on Thursday claiming compensation from the Philippine government and eight officials. Yik and Chan filed a separate claim against Hong Thai Travel Services, whose tour they took, for negligence and breach of duty. A spokesman for Philippine President Benigno Aquino refused to comment on the lawsuit yesterday, saying the government had yet to see the writ.

As for whether the Philippine government would send an emissary to Hong Kong, he said the matter would be referred to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

In a rare move, state broadcaster CCTV included news of the petition in its bulletins last night.

On August 23, 2010, Rolando Mendoza took 22 Hongkongers and three Filipinos captive on a bus in Manila. He shot dead seven tourists and their guide before being killed in a bungled rescue.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as They can't even take our petition, say families

a hong kong citizen of Nepali kin unarmed was shot dead by HK police officer no any punishment to any sorry from HK govt... y cry so hard when come to HAN short dead in a third country???

chuchu59 Aug 23rd 20137:43pm

It just shows what a bunch of cowards these people are and by these I refer to both the Filipino Consulate and the HK Government. The latter lacks balls to take a tough stance and simply assumed the role of messenger. The former doesn't even live up to its promises to receive the letter.

aplucky1 Aug 24th 20138:45pm

they rejected the mayor's apology?he was not even mayor when that happened is that correct?sounds like the only "sincere" apology will contain hands full of money

Carparklee Aug 24th 20132:11pm

Shame on the Philippines government. Shame on Benigno Aquino. No wonder why a country which was once one of the richest among all Asian countries after WWII has become such a pseudo slavery country who relies heavily on her own people traveling aboard taking servant like jobs so as to sustain her operation. From what the consulate's yesterday "0" trust-worthiness behavior, we can presume that there is no improvement in this administration no matter how many so-called "people revolutions" took place in this country. People at the top still maintain the foolish, cunning, shameless, greedy and stupid mentality. Look at one of the many problems in this country: illegal and unregistered guns possession and firing. How many innocent people under this Philippine administration lost they lives. Look at their garbage hills. How many poor people under this government suffered from numerous illnesses. Philippines people, wake up and urge your government to undo all too many wrongful mistakes they committed to people in the Philippines and those who visit the country like Hong Kong tourists. Admit what you did wrong, apologize sincerely and ask for forgiveness. Without such courage, I bet your country will continue the existing path to further go down, go under. Without the wisdom to find out what went wrong in your system and people's mentality, I bet your people will never deserve respect from people all around the world.